Dear Beautiful Babies:
You would be six weeks old today.
It's been a little over a month since Moose and Ox joined their siblings on Rainbow Bridge. My heart still aches for you. So many people did you wrong, and yet, if only one had taken their time to provide you with proper care, you could have survived. You would be learning to sit now, learning to potty outside. You would be barking and running and jumping and playing. You would be the talk of the town - eight gorgeous babies, so full of life, so spirited and smart.. But instead, you are eight of the millions that die every day. You are a drop in the bucket. But I will not let you die in vain. Justice will be served - those who are responsible for your deaths may never know the grief and agony they have caused, but I can prevent babies like you from dying in the future.
I leave for college today - I'm majoring in Biochemistry. I am going to be a veterinarian, sweet boys -- and as a vet student, I am going to do a research project about Fading Puppy Syndrome. Something could have been done to save you, I am sure of it. Some vaccination, some treatment, some mix of magic and love.. The rescue vet told me to just "keep [the puppies] warm and try to keep them nursing". You were too young.. but does age give you a lesser value? Because you could not yet see the world around you, does that mean your place in it was less important? What does this mean for the sightless elderly dogs of the world? Do they, too, get pushed aside in favor of the dogs who still have a long life to live?
No.
I will not let this injustice occur. I may not be able to cure Fading Puppy Syndrome, but I will give it my best. I will figure out how best to treat you - I will publish books and write for websites and magazines about how to save your lives. I will create medicines specifically for your little bodies - I will create machines to look inside of your wee systems, to see what's wrong - I will engineer a system of treatment to save your lives.
And boys, on the door leading to my future veterinary practice, I will have plaques bearing your names. All those who enter will know that Af, Camael, Hamon, Elijah, Gavreel, Hael, Moose, and Ox lived and died here on Earth for a reason and that their purpose will not go un-realized.
Moose and Ox, the two boys that I knew so well.. Strong names intended for two hard-fighting boys, to give them strength. Their strength held through until God beckoned to them, and said that their purpose on Earth had been served.
Af, the blonde little girl who died in my lap, named for the angel of light.
Camael, the black little girl who died in my hands, whose name means "one who sees God".
Hamon, the little black and white boy who died in my arms, named for a great, beautiful, honored prince angel in heaven.
For the three babies that died on the way from the kill shelter to the rescue:
Elijah, named for the angel of innocence.
Gavreel, named for the angel of peace.
Hael, named for the angel of kindness.
I will avenge you, babies. You have touched me, and I will touch the lives of puppies like you in your honor. I cannot wait to meet you again one day, to see you on Rainbow Bridge, grown and beautiful like you should have been on this Earth. You were robbed of your lives, but your beauty showed through your weakness..
I love you.
M
P.S.
Your mommy loves and misses you. Ask God for a little favor - see if he can't help get Miss Abby adopted into a great home? She's been through too much to sit around in a foster home now.
Also, someone I know in the West has a litter of puppies, and the runt has begun to "fade". Please watch over her, babies. If it should be her time, please show her the way to Rainbow Bridge and let her know that even over here in Virginia, tears are being shed in her name.
